Danish Fruit Basket

Beginner Level | 12”x12”x3” | $38

This most unusual Danish willow basket is easy for all ages to make as it starts with a provided cardboard template through which an odd number of willow rods are inserted and tied below. Students start weaving with the siding and then go on to the border. The card is then removed and the basket ends with the weaving of the base! Good for teaching to children.

Exploring Baby Rattles

All Levels | 2”x2”x4” (varies) | $30

In this workshop, several designs of baby rattles will be made. The rattle is ancient in origin. The seven willows represent the seven virtues while the seven pebbles contained by the willows represent the seven deadly sins. Hence, the willows contain and balance the sins and provide good luck. The techniques of different rattle design will be explored. Peeled willow will be used.

Spoon and Candle Basket

Beginner | 4”x4”x9” | $32

Using a variety of different colored willow, students will use a loaned mold for the making of the basket. From a simple slath, the basket is woven in randing weave, ending with a simple trac border and a roped handle. This basket is good for spoons and candles when the basket is attached to a wall.

Sciathog (Irish Potato Straining Basket) 

All Levels | 13”x13”x4”| $48

This classic Irish frame basket is traditionally used for straining and serving boiled potatoes. Pre-carved and dried rims are provided for students. Students will carve ribs and weave with different colored homegrown willows. This basket is nice for fruit.

Skeined Willow Earrings

All Levels | 1 1/4”x1 1/4”x1/4” | $35

A very attractive pair of skeined willow earrings will be made with provided white ash splint core and prepared skein. Skein is very thin, long and even width strips of willow. The cores will be wrapped with skein in a variety of patterns and colors. French hook wires will be provided.

"Early American Life" Lunch Basket  

Beginner: 1 long day or easier 1.5 days | 12”X12”X12” | $48

This excellent beginning basket was featured in the October 1992 issue of the “Early American Life” magazine. It is made of unpeeled willow with a round base in pairing weave, followed by staking up, waling and flared siding in French randing weave. Top waling, double border and wrapped handle complete the basket.

French Cheese Basket 

Intermediate | 9”x9”x5” | $55

This basket is a classic cheese basket with a tension tray base. The scallomed stakes are followed by French slewed sides and a rod border. A separate lid is made similar to the base and is attached to the basket with two hinges. The basket is woven in peeled willow.

Wall Basket

Beginner | 6”x9”x 8” | $48

This small rectangular basket is a good introduction to “square work”. A small base is woven in a screw block. The stakes are then inserted, followed by a randed siding and a rod border. The back is made higher and a hole is left in the back for attaching to a wall.

Sciob

Beginner/Intermediate | 16”x16”x4” | $58

This classic Irish potato straining basket has a most unusual base design. There is an option of a ring of colored willow in the base weaving. After staking up, a foot wale is woven. The siding is in three-rod waling weave. The basket is completed with a large rod border.

Oval Muffin Basket

Beginner/Intermediate | 7”X11”X6“ | $55

This attractive table basket is a good introduction to oval willow work. An oval split-stick base is woven and then staked up. A special foot wale follows. The siding is in French randing with alternate colors of weavers. Top waling, border and two roped side handles complete this basket.

Scrap (or Wastepaper) Basket

Beginner/Intermediate | 14”X14”X11” | $52

This basket, made in buff willow, is a copy of an original Gustav Stickley basket design. A round base is woven in pairing weave. The base is double staked up, followed by an upsett of three rod wailing. The siding is in an English slewing weave. Top waling and a plaited border complete the basket.

Bushel Basket 

All Levels | 20”X20”X14” | $68

This large classic willow basket is suitable for all levels of students. Beginners will learn basic round willow techniques, while more advanced students can hone their control, shaping and roping skills. A medium sized 13 inch base is woven in pairing weave and then staked up with bottom waling. The French randing siding is completed with top waling and a large rod border. Two roped handles finish the basket and there is an optional removable foot.

English Square Shopper

Intermediate | 11”X15”X 12” | $68

This classic English Shopper has a rectangular base which is made in a screwblock device with randing weave. After staking up and bottom waling, the sides are woven in an English slewing weave. The long sides of the basket are packed higher and the corners are “soft shoulders”. The rectangular border technique for soft shoulders will be taught followed by the insertion of a handle bow which is then wrapped. The basket is made in unpeeled willow.

Backpack Basket

Intermediate | 13”X18”X15 | $88 with cloth straps

This large backpack is made of unpeeled willow starting with a large oval split stick base. This oval base is woven in a combination of randing and pairing weave. Staking up, waling and sets of French randing weave compose the siding. A roped handle on the back completes the basket. A mold is not used and so the class will concentrate on shaping. Custom cloth straps are included in the materials fee.

Pocketbook or Fishing Creel  

Intermediate/Advanced | 7”X10”X9” | $98

This classic creel is woven on a loaned wooden mold. The lid can either be woven for a pocketbook or fishing use (the latter involves weaving a hole in the lid). A D shaped base is woven using scallomed stakes and randing weave. The sides are woven in French randing with much waling and packing in order to achieve the shape on the mold. Two holes are incorporated into the back of the basket for strap holes. A small rod border completes the basket. The lid is woven to fit the top of the basket. A rod is tied to the top shape and scallomed stakes are attached to this hoop. A branched willow twig is carved for the lid slide and woven into the lid. Back hinges and front fastenings will be taught. A leather and brass harness is included in the materials fee.

Camera Basket

Advanced | 5”X10”X 13” | $75 includes leather strap

This camera basket is woven in peeled willow without the use of a mold. The small rectangular base is woven in a loaned screwblock. Staking up is followed by siding in a particular English randing weave. Control of the shape is critical. Back strap holes are incorporated. A lid with a twig slide is incorporated. Fastenings and a leather strap complete the basket.

Crocane /Oval Arm Basket

Intermediate/Advanced | 14”X19”X13” | $68

The Crocane is a classic French oval arm basket, made of peeled willow. Special techniques to be taught include the oval split stick base woven in French randing; chase upsetting; some doubling of French randing in the siding and a double wrapped handle. There is an optional foot on the basket. The large double wrapped handle uses long rods which are roped.

Bentwood Trellis

All Levels | 6 feet by 2 feet (varies) | $75 | One Day

In this one day workshop, students will be provided with willow and other woods necessary to build a large full size bentwood trellis for the garden. Wire and nails will be used to secure the pieces of wood. The class will cover types and sources of wood, hardware, construction, design and installation.

Hurdles and Trellises for the Garden

All Levels | Size Varies | $89 | Two Days

In this workshop, three items to take home will be made over the two days. Firstly, a small hurdle or woven fence (3 feet by 18 inches tall) will be built. This will be followed by the building of two different garden plant supports: an English hoop trellis that measures 2 feet in diameter; and a 6 foot pea cage for climbing plants. All three structures will be built in the ground and then removed. Willow and other woods will be provided.

Rustic Mirrors

All Levels | Size Varies | Fee Varies | One or Two Days

Rustic mirror making in the Adirondack camp tradition will be pursued over one or two days. A backboard will be provided with mirror glass. Willow and other green woods will be cut to frame the board and glass. Birch bark and birch twigs will be provided for students to explore decoration of the mirror. The two day class will involve the building of a larger mirror with a shelf and the option of scene painting will be explored.